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GOP comes down on Rep. Steve King, strips him of committee assignments

GOP comes down on Rep. Steve King, strips him of committee assignments

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Updated: 9:38 PM CST Jan 14, 2019

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WEBVTT represents Iowans. Representative Steve King had little to say Monday ... After he left a meeting with House Republicans - where they stripped him of his committee assignments. <I DO THINK IT'S TIME THAT HE STEPS ASIDE.> But Iowa Republicans like Senator Randy Feenstra have a lot to say. Feenstra believes King no longer represents the Fourth District. <I THINK HIS BEHAVIOR AND HIS TALKS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. IT HAS BECOME CAUSTIC AND VOTERS ARE STARTING TO REALIZE THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE TO STEP IN Feenstra wants to be that conservative, and plans to challenge King in the primary. <I JUST THINK IT'S TIME TO HAVE A POSITIVE EMBASSADOR FOR THE FOURTH DISTRIC.> In an interview with the New York Times in a story published last week, King asked, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive?" Now House Republicans are telling King - enough is enough. <IT'S A MATTER OF THE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO SAFEGUARD THEIR BRAND. THEIR LABEL.> House Democrats also pushed Monday to censure King. <THAT IS BASICALLY A KIND OF PUBLIC CHASTISMENT. SAYING YOU HAVE BROUGHT DISREPUTE UPON THE HOUSE.> <THIS IS PRETTY SERIOUS> <WELL I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME. WE THINK HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CENTURED A LONG TIME AGO.> Critics of King - like the NAACP and Iowa Democrats - say King has been making racist comments for years. And it's about time his own party did something about it. <IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE STARTING TO JUST NOW CONDEMN STEVE KING FOR HIS RETORHIC. WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS.> <AT LEAST WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT OK. THAT HE CAN'T CONTINUE TO TALK LIKE THIS

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GOP comes down on Rep. Steve King, strips him of committee assignments

The House Republican Steering Committee voted on Monday to remove Iowa Fourth District Rep. Steve King from three House committees -- agriculture, judiciary, and small business.In an interview with the New York Times last week King asked, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization -- how did that language become offensive?"King has since said his comments were taken out of context and that he rejects white supremacist ideology.He had little to say Monday as he left the meeting where House Republicans stripped him of his committee assignments.Republican state Sen. Randy Feenstra, who wants to challenge King in the primary, is calling on King to resign. Feenstra said King no longer represents Iowa's Fourth Congressional District."I think his behavior and his talks speaks for itself," Feenstra said. "It has become caustic and voters are starting to realize that maybe it's time for another conservative to step in."Feenstra said he thinks it is time for a "positive ambassador" in the fourth district. KCCI political analyst Dennis Goldford said King's New York Times comments have his fellow Republicans on the defensive."It's a matter of the Republicans trying to safeguard their brand (and) their label," Goldford said.Meanwhile, House Democrats pushed Monday to censure King."That is basically a kind of public chastisement saying you have brought disrepute upon the House," Goldford said. "This is pretty serious."Critics of King, like the NAACP and Iowa Democrats, said King has been making racist comments for years and that it is about time his own party did something about it."I think it's about time," said Betty Andrews, with the NAACP. "We think he should have been censured a long time ago.""It's incredibly frustrating to see that Republicans are starting to just now condemn Steve King for his rhetoric," said Troy Price, with the Democratic Party of Iowa. "We have been hearing this for years and years."King responded to being stripped of his committees in a statement, saying, "Leader McCarthy's decision to remove me from committees is a political decision that ignores the truth."He went on to say, "When I used the word 'that' it was in reference only to Western Civilization and not to any previously stated evil ideology all of which I have denounced."My record as a vocal advocate for Western Civilization is nearly as full as my record in defense of freedom of speech."

WASHINGTON —

The House Republican Steering Committee voted on Monday to remove Iowa Fourth District Rep. Steve King from three House committees -- agriculture, judiciary, and small business.

In an interview with the New York Times last week King asked, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization -- how did that language become offensive?"

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King has since said his comments were taken out of context and that he rejects white supremacist ideology.

He had little to say Monday as he left the meeting where House Republicans stripped him of his committee assignments.

Republican state Sen. Randy Feenstra, who wants to challenge King in the primary, is calling on King to resign. Feenstra said King no longer represents Iowa's Fourth Congressional District.

"I think his behavior and his talks speaks for itself," Feenstra said. "It has become caustic and voters are starting to realize that maybe it's time for another conservative to step in."

Feenstra said he thinks it is time for a "positive ambassador" in the fourth district. KCCI political analyst Dennis Goldford said King's New York Times comments have his fellow Republicans on the defensive.

"It's a matter of the Republicans trying to safeguard their brand (and) their label," Goldford said.

Meanwhile, House Democrats pushed Monday to censure King.

"That is basically a kind of public chastisement saying you have brought disrepute upon the House," Goldford said. "This is pretty serious."

Critics of King, like the NAACP and Iowa Democrats, said King has been making racist comments for years and that it is about time his own party did something about it.

"I think it's about time," said Betty Andrews, with the NAACP. "We think he should have been censured a long time ago."

"It's incredibly frustrating to see that Republicans are starting to just now condemn Steve King for his rhetoric," said Troy Price, with the Democratic Party of Iowa. "We have been hearing this for years and years."

King responded to being stripped of his committees in a statement, saying, "Leader McCarthy's decision to remove me from committees is a political decision that ignores the truth."

He went on to say, "When I used the word 'that' it was in reference only to Western Civilization and not to any previously stated evil ideology all of which I have denounced.

"My record as a vocal advocate for Western Civilization is nearly as full as my record in defense of freedom of speech."